Justice News

Former President of St. Louis Law Enforcement Officer Association Sentenced on Fraud Charges

St. Louis, MO – Darren Randal Wilson was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison, and a three-year term of supervised release, for his misappropriation of over $80,000 from the Ethical Society of Police.

As part of the guilty plea in September, Wilson acknowledged that he abused his position of public and private trust. He agreed to a money judgment against him of $80,934, to account for the losses to ESOP associated with the fraud scheme. He also agreed to surrender his law enforcement certification and to no longer work or seek employment as a law enforcement officer.

According to court documents, Wilson was president of the Ethical Society of Police (ESOP) in 2013 and 2014. As president of ESOP, Wilson had access to funds in the ESOP bank account, which consisted primarily of the monthly dues contributed by the police officer members of ESOP.

Between July 2013 and December 2014, Wilson engaged in a fraud scheme to misappropriate money from the ESOP bank account and to use the money for his own purposes, including funding his business promoting comedy shows featuring nationally known comedians at local night clubs. To further the fraud scheme, Wilson transmitted some of the misappropriated money by Fed Wire, PayPal and Western Union wire transfers. To conceal his fraudulent activity, Wilson presented false information to ESOP officers and members.

Wilson, St. Louis, Missouri, pled guilty to all nine counts of wire fraud in September. He appeared today for sentencing before United States District Judge Henry Autrey.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Cristian M. Stevens handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.